XCOM 2 Ability Cooldown Comparison (Turn Counts)
How long is each XCOM 2 ability cooldown? Compare 15 fixed turn counts from Aid Protocol (1) to Null Lance (5). Firaxis Wiki class cooldown table here.
Visual comparison
All values
Click any row to load it as Entry A.
| Name | Value | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aid Protocol Shortest here at 1 turn. Threat upgrade makes 2. | 1 turns | Specialist, defense protocol | Firaxis via XCOM Wiki Specialist: Aid Protocol 1 turn |
| Deadeye 2 turns. High crit tradeoff. | 2 turns | Sharpshooter, pistol snipe | Firaxis via XCOM Wiki Sharpshooter: Deadeye 2 turns |
| Demolition 3 turns plus 2 ammo. | 3 turns | Grenadier, cover destruction | Firaxis via XCOM Wiki Grenadier: Demolition 3 turns |
| Chain Shot 3 turns plus 2 ammo. | 3 turns | Grenadier, twin shot | Firaxis via XCOM Wiki Grenadier: Chain Shot 3 turns |
| Rupture 3 turns plus 3 ammo. | 3 turns | Grenadier, rupture rounds | Firaxis via XCOM Wiki Grenadier: Rupture 3 turns |
| Run and Gun 3 turns. Flank engine. | 3 turns | Ranger, move and shoot | Firaxis via XCOM Wiki Ranger: Run and Gun 3 turns |
| Lightning Hands 3 turns. Free action. | 3 turns | Sharpshooter, free pistol shot | Firaxis via XCOM Wiki Sharpshooter: Lightning Hands 3 turns |
| Kill Zone 3 turns. Ambush core. | 3 turns | Sharpshooter, overwatch cone | Firaxis via XCOM Wiki Sharpshooter: Kill Zone 3 turns |
| Soulfire 3 turns. Guaranteed damage. | 3 turns | Psi Operative, psionic burn | Firaxis via XCOM Wiki Psi Operative: Soulfire 3 turns |
| Haywire Protocol 4 turns. MEC takeover. | 4 turns | Specialist, robot hack | Firaxis via XCOM Wiki Specialist: Haywire 4 turns |
| Reaper 4 turns. Chain kills. | 4 turns | Ranger, melee chain | Firaxis via XCOM Wiki Ranger: Reaper 4 turns |
| Serial 4 turns. Pod clearer. | 4 turns | Sharpshooter, kill chains | Firaxis via XCOM Wiki Sharpshooter: Serial 4 turns |
| Hail of Bullets 5 turns plus 3 ammo. | 5 turns | Grenadier, guaranteed hit | Firaxis via XCOM Wiki Grenadier: Hail 5 turns |
| Saturation Fire 5 turns plus 3 ammo. | 5 turns | Grenadier, cone saturation | Firaxis via XCOM Wiki Grenadier: Saturation 5 turns |
| Null Lance 5 turns. Wiki corrects guessed 4. | 5 turns | Psi Operative, lance blast | Firaxis via XCOM Wiki Psi Operative: Null Lance 5 turns |
About this converter
XCOM 2 soldier abilities recharge on fixed turn cooldowns, and this page compares 15 of them from Firaxis data. Aid Protocol returns in 1 turn, Deadeye in 2, a band of Grenadier and Ranger workhorses at 3, Haywire, Reaper and Serial at 4, and the heavy ordnance at 5. Figures come from the XCOM Wiki class pages for Specialist, Grenadier, Ranger, Sharpshooter and Psi Operative. Per-mission charges like Combat Protocol and Domination stay out since charges never sit beside turn cooldowns. Rapid Fire counts only under War of the Chosen rules and stays out for the same reason.
How to use it
Pick two abilities and a unit in the top row. The three boxes below stay linked. Change any box and the other two update. Try 1 Hail of Bullets against Aid Protocol to see the 5 to 1 gap. Then test Haywire Protocol against Deadeye to compare 4 turns with 2.
Ammo costs ride alongside several rows: Demolition, Chain Shot and Rupture each spend 2 to 3 ammo on top of their cooldowns. Threat Assessment stretches Aid Protocol from 1 turn to 2. Null Lance reads 5 turns on the Wiki table, correcting the guessed 4. Serial chains kills without an ammo cap, which is why its 4 turn cooldown balances entire pods.
FAQ
Which ability cools down longest?
Hail of Bullets, Saturation Fire and Null Lance at 5 turns each.
Are charge abilities included?
No. Per-mission charges like Combat Protocol never sit beside turn cooldowns.
Does ammo matter too?
Yes, Demolition through Rupture spend 2 to 3 ammo on top of cooldown turns.
Is Rapid Fire included?
No. Rapid Fire has a 5 turn cooldown only in War of the Chosen, so it stays out of base rows.
Sources
- Firaxis XCOM 2 game data (soldier ability cooldown turns)
- XCOM Wiki Specialist, Grenadier, Ranger, Sharpshooter and Psi Operative class pages (cooldown cross-check)
Last verified: 2026-10-06 · 15 entries
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